Pool-ball-racking frame



Jan. 14, 1930. J. c. F. HORSTMANN ,8

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Jo/mCFHbrsZmann V ATTORNEY.

fatented Jan. 1 4, 1930 UNITED STATES JOHN C. F, HORSTMANN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK POOL-BALL-RACKING FRAME Application filed September 24, 1927. Serial 'No. 221,721.

This invention relates to pool ball supporting frames, adapted particularly for use in connection with pocket pool tables.

The primary object of the invention is to 5 provide a triangle to contain the pool balls which snugly accommodates the requisite number of balls and maintains them properly until it is desired to spot them upon the table. 7

A further object is to provide a-frame -of this character, usually of triangular form, and which may constitute an efficient means whereby the balls may be carried from place to place or maintained in proper racked form when not in use upon the table.

A further object is to provide a pool ball racking triangle by the use of which it becomes unnecessary in supporting the balls to oscillate the frame as is customarily done prior to removal of the triangle from the assembled balls.

A still further object is to provide a ball racking triangle adapted particularly for use in connection with the pool table attachment described and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 221,720, filed September l/Vith these objects inview, together with others which will appear as the description 30 proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, and

particularly pointed out in the claims. 2 Fig. 1 is a plan view of a pool ball racking triangle constructed in accordance with my invention and showing the same as it will appear with the balls applied thereto and ready to be spotted upon the table,

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the frame, and

Fig. 3-is a transverse sectional view taken substantially upon line 3-3 of Fig. 1 with the balls removed.

In carrying out the invention, a conventional form of triangle at may be employed,

and to'its limit ofmovement, the forward base, and the under side of this cleat is reeflicient means for manipulating the slide bottom,but also operates as a limiting or edges with the slidebottom 7 insert-ed to the and as usual, such a rack comprises an equilateral triangle of asize to snugly accommodate fifteen pool balls. The sides of this triangle may be secured together in any desired or preferred manner and are connected at 5 the corners by any suitable means, the usual blocks 5 being shown in the present instance. This triangle is providedin each of its three sides with slots indicated at 6. These slots extend approximately throughout the operative length of the sides of the triangle, and near the lower edges of said sides. All of said slots are positioned in a common plane.

Associated with the triangle is a removable slide or bottom 7, constituting a flat plate preferably of rectangular formation, and of a breadth substantially equal to the length of any one of said slots. This plate, for convenience in operation, may be a trifle thinner than the breadth of said slots, and has applied to theupper surface thereof a layer offabric such as a cushioning felt or pad 8. The length of this plateor bottom is substantially equal to the altitude of the triangle so that when inserted through a slot in the base edges of the bottom will project through the slots in the sides of the triangle. The bottom, therefore, will be supported in proper position within the triangle within the slots in the base as well a'sthe sides.

The slide bottom is provided upon its up per surface and near one edge with a cleat 9 secured in any preferred manner to the cessed as at 9 to constitute a finger grip. That portion of the bottom underlying said recess is cut away as at 10 to further facilitate application of the fingers to the underside of the cleat. Thiscleat constitutes not only 8 stop member for the slide bottom. In practice, the triangle is rested upon its full limit of its movement, whereupon said bottom will be held within the several slots in parallelism with the edges of the triangle. The balls 11 are then placed therein in the usual Way, resting upon the slide bottom 7. \Vhen thus positioned, the triangle may be carried about with the balls properly positioned therein, and by reason of the location of the slide bottom near the lower edge of the frame, the centers of gravity of the several balls will be positioned approximately at the upper edge of the triangle, This arrangement permits of consideratble latitude of tilting of the triangle without danger of the balls dropping out. When it is desired to spot the balls, the triangle with the balls so assembled is placed properly upon the pool table with the ball at the vertex disposed over the table spot. IVhen so-positi-onecl, thetriangle is held with one hand while the slide bottom 7 is Withdrawn withthe other, whereup onthe balls drop to the tableinp'rop'e'r assembled triangular formation. The triangle may then be removed from the balls and the-slide bottom'rep'laced therein ready for the next racking operation. By reason of the uniformity of the slot sizes in the three sides of the tric angle, the plate or slide bottom may be used with any of said sides as the base of the triangle, and the surface of the slide bottom is sufliciently large to constitute a bottom for the support of all the balls.

As heretofore stated, this frame is adapted particularly for use in connection with the pool table attachment described in my application for Letters Patent-aforesaid, but it will be understood that its use is not necessarily restricted to that type of table, as it may equally as well be used with tables not equipped with runways for the balls. By constructing the frame in this manner it is at once apparent that the balls may beracked and properly supported without resorting to the oscillating movements of the triangle commonly employed with the ordinary type of triangle. I

lVhile the foregoing is a description ofthe invention in its preferred embodiment, it is nevertheless to be understood that variations in the construction and assemblage of parts may be liberally resorted to ifdesired within the limitations of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 9 I

1. In a ball rack, a frame comprising an equilateral triangle having'slots' of uniform length and breadth in itsthree sides, the said slots terminating equal distances from the ends of their respective sides, a slide bottom of a breadth substantially equal to the length of any one of said slots andadapt-ed to enter the same, and edgesof said slide adapted to enter the other'of said slots. p

2. In a ball rack, a frame comprising an equilateral triangle having slots of uniform length and breadth in its three sides, a slide comprising a flat plate of a breadth equal to the length of one of said slots, said plate being of rectangular shape and of a length substantially equal to the altitude of said triangle, a block at one end of said plate having a recess in its lower edge to constitute a finger grip, and a soft covering for said plate.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN C. F. HORSTMANN. 

